US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

51 U.S.C. § 50919

Relationship to other executive agencies, laws, and international obligations

(a)

Executive Agencies .—

Except as provided in this chapter, a person is not required to obtain from an executive agency a license, approval, waiver, or exemption to launch a launch vehicle or operate a launch site or reentry site, or to reenter a reentry vehicle.
(b)

Federal Communications Commission and Secretary of Commerce .—

This chapter does not affect the authority of—
(1)
47 U.S.C. 151 the Federal Communications Commission under the Communications Act of 1934 ( et seq.); or
(2)
the Secretary of Commerce under chapter 601 of this title.
(c)

States and Political Subdivisions .—

A State or political subdivision of a State—
(1)
may not adopt or have in effect a law, regulation, standard, or order inconsistent with this chapter; but
(2)
may adopt or have in effect a law, regulation, standard, or order consistent with this chapter that is in addition to or more stringent than a requirement of, or regulation prescribed under, this chapter.
(d)

Consultation .—

The Secretary of Transportation is encouraged to consult with a State to simplify and expedite the approval of a space launch or reentry activity.
(e)

Foreign Countries .—

The Secretary of Transportation shall—
(1)
carry out this chapter consistent with an obligation the United States Government assumes in a treaty, convention, or agreement in force between the Government and the government of a foreign country; and
(2)
consider applicable laws and requirements of a foreign country when carrying out this chapter.
(f)

Launch Not an Export; Reentry Not an Import .—

19 U.S.C. 81a–81uA launch vehicle, reentry vehicle, or payload that is launched or reentered is not, because of the launch or reentry, an export or import, respectively, for purposes of a law controlling exports or imports, except that payloads launched pursuant to foreign trade zone procedures as provided for under the Foreign Trade Zones Act () shall be considered exports with regard to customs entry.
(g)

Nonapplication.—

(1)

In general .—

This chapter does not apply to—
(A)
a launch, reentry, operation of a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle, operation of a launch site or reentry site, or other space activity the Government carries out for the Government; or
(B)
planning or policies related to the launch, reentry, operation, or activity under subparagraph (A).
(2)

Rule of construction .—

The following activities are not space activities the Government carries out for the Government under paragraph (1):
(A)
A government astronaut being carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle under this chapter.
(B)
A government astronaut performing activities directly relating to the launch, reentry, or other operation of the launch vehicle or reentry vehicle under this chapter.

Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e)108 Stat. 1342§ 70117 of title 49Pub. L. 104–287, § 5(95)110 Stat. 3398Pub. L. 105–303, title I, § 102(a)(15)112 Stat. 2850§ 50919 of title 51Pub. L. 111–314, § 4(d)(2)124 Stat. 3440–3442Pub. L. 114–90, title I, § 112o129 Stat. 713(, , , ; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 70117 then and amended , (3)(S), (5)(T), , ; (), , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Pub. L. 103–272

Revised

Section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

70117(a)

49 App.:2605(c)(1).

Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98–575, §§ 6(c), 21, 98 Stat. 3058, 3063.

70117(b)

49 App.:2605(c)(2).

70117(c)

49 App.:2620(a) (1st, 2d sentences).

70117(d)

49 App.:2620(a) (last sentence).

70117(e)

49 App.:2620(d).

70117(f)

49 App.:2620(b).

70117(g)

49 App.:2620(c).

In subsection (e)(1), the words “government of a foreign country” are substituted for “foreign nation” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.

Pub. L. 104–287

Public Law 102–555106 Stat. 416615 U.S.C. 420115 U.S.C. 5601This amends 49:70117(b)(2) by updating a cross-reference. Section 4 of the Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992 (, ) repealed the Land Remote-Sensing Commercialization Act of 1984 ( et seq.). The substantive provisions of the Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992, which replaced the Land Remote-Sensing Commercialization Act of 1984, were classified to the United States Code at et seq.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

act June 19, 1934, ch. 65248 Stat. 1064section 609 of Title 47The Communications Act of 1934, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is , , which is classified principally to section 151 et seq. of Title 47, Telecommunications. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see and Tables.

act June 18, 1934, ch. 59048 Stat. 998The Foreign Trade Zones Act, referred to in subsec. (f), is , , which is classified generally to chapter 1A (§ 81a et seq.) of Title 19, Customs Duties. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Amendments

Pub. L. 114–902015—Subsec. (g). amended subsec. (g) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “This chapter does not apply to—

“(1) a launch, reentry, operation of a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle, operation of a launch site or reentry site, or other space activity the Government carries out for the Government; or

“(2) planning or policies related to the launch, reentry, operation, or activity.”

Pub. L. 111–314, § 4(d)(2)section 70117 of title 49section 70117 of this title2010—, (3)(S), successively renumbered and as this section.

Pub. L. 111–314, § 4(d)(5)(T)15 U.S.C. 5601Subsec. (b)(2). , substituted “chapter 601 of this title” for “the Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992 ( et seq.)”.

Pub. L. 105–303, § 102(a)(15)(A)1998—Subsec. (a). , inserted “or reentry site, or to reenter a reentry vehicle” after “operate a launch site”.

Pub. L. 105–303, § 102(a)(15)(B)Subsec. (d). , inserted “or reentry” after “approval of a space launch”.

Pub. L. 105–303, § 102(a)(15)(C)Subsec. (f). , amended heading and text of subsec. (f) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “A launch vehicle or payload that is launched is not, because of the launch, an export for purposes of a law controlling exports.”

Pub. L. 105–303, § 102(a)(15)(D)(i)Subsec. (g)(1). , substituted “reentry, operation of a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle, operation of a launch site or reentry site,” for “operation of a launch vehicle or launch site,”.

Pub. L. 105–303, § 102(a)(15)(D)(ii)Subsec. (g)(2). , inserted “reentry,” after “launch,”.

Pub. L. 104–28715 U.S.C. 560115 U.S.C. 42011996—Subsec. (b)(2). substituted “Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992 ( et seq.)” for “Land Remote-Sensing Commercialization Act of 1984 ( et seq.)”.